Some rather good ''Then & Nows'' on the BBC News website. BBC News - In pictures: Auschwitz-Birkenau, then and now
The photos are from a photo album shot by the SS in 1944 showing the arrival of a transport from Hungary, selection for labour for extermination of those unfortunate souls shown in these terrible images. Whilst some of these are well known the complete series does really shake you more than just a bit, from "getting them off the train" , "the medical selection", sorting of the prisoners property in "Canada" and the painful innocent wait of those selected for death in the Birchwood from which Birkenau took its name. Needless to say the murders are not recorded..........
Is the whole series of pics available to view onine? The only place I can find them is from the official Auschwitz online shop. Auschwitz-Birkenau - Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Place Where You Are Standing...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30953301 Aerial video of Auschwitz-Birkenau 3 hours ago Drone video shows the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp as it is today - 70 years after it was liberated by Soviet troops. The camp in Poland is now maintained as a World Heritage Site and is visited by thousands of tourists and survivors every year. Auschwitz was the largest camp established by the Germans during World War II. More than a million people - the vast majority of them Jews - died there between 1940, when it was built, and 1945, when it was liberated by the Soviet army. Railway tracks into Auschwitz-Birkenau - Trains filled with victims from throughout occupied Europe arrived at the camp almost every day between 1942 and the summer of 1944. Ruins of wooden huts at Birkenau - Birkenau (or Auschwitz II) was erected in 1941 solely as a death camp, the wooden huts are now in ruins with only brick fireplaces and chimneys remaining. Entrance to Auschwitz I -The wrought-iron sign over the entrance bears the words Arbeit Macht Frei - "Work sets you free". Auschwitz I - The brick-built buildings were the former cavalry barracks of the Polish Army. Courtyard between blocks 10 and 11 at Auschwitz I - Block 11 was called "the Block of Death" by prisoners. Executions took place between Block 10 and Block 11 and posts in the yard were used to string up prisoners by their wrists.
Diane, Thanks for the link. The drone really Shows just how huge these camps were and the camp takes on new dimensions, compared to looking at still photos and maps. A truly horrific place to be sent. Regards Tom
good day owen,super moderaters.27 feb.2012.11:05.am.re:auschwitz-birkennau,then and now.i came across this old post.all i can say,they can plant all the grass they like.it wont cover the stain that place represents.in fact i think many responsinble for creating this monstrosity still regard it as a job well done.they got away with mass murder,and lived long lives in south america and gradualy returned to germany.all known to the goverments of the day.may they rot in hell.regards bernard85
I'm putting this link here in preference to starting a new thread, of which there are of course many: Searching for traces of my grandfather at Auschwitz
Some more news articles on the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of the camp: Holocaust Day prompts new anti-Semitism warnings William and Kate light candles with Holocaust survivors How Auschwitz became centre of Nazi Holocaust 'I was 90% dead': Henri's story of surviving Auschwitz Photos from families ripped apart by the Holocaust